The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Incumbent, Clerk locked in battle for supervisor
By Sotirios Adamopoulos, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: July 24, 2008
There are two Democratic candidates running in the Aug. 5 Primary Election for Ypsilanti Township Supervisor position: incumbent Ruth Ann Jamnick and Brenda Stumbo. There are no Republicans filed, barring a write-in candidate victory the position of Supervisor will be determined in the Primary.
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Name: Ruth Ann Jamnick (incumbent)
Residence: Ypsilanti Township
Political experience: Ypsilanti Township Treasurer (1976 to 1999), State Representative 54 District (1999 to 2004), Ypsilanti Township Supervisor (2004 to present).
Why are you running?
I feel like it would take at least two terms to get through planning for the future of our community. Our population is currently at about 53,000 people. Our fullest capacity holds 75,000, a number we are not far away from. We need to determine what kind of buildings and services we may need to increase - police or fire stations.
What can citizens expect when the township reaches full capacity?
Once we get close to that 75,000 mark, then our company values will flatten out. You're a different community at full build-up then you are from the growing community. Everybody's here, so you have to sustain services. We're not really doing anything to plan for the future. I would like to see us do some strategic planning.
What are the major issues affecting the area?
Foreclosures. We're the second largest municipality in Washtenaw County so therefore we have the second largest - if not the largest - number of foreclosures.
We need to figure out how to bring businesses here that will hire people. We're not going to see huge car manufacturer facilities anymore. We're going to have the potential to work with alternative fuels - new resources and technology.
How do you plan on approaching these issues?
We're working very closely with county treasurer Catherine McClary. She holds community conferences and presentations across the county. We've had at least one at the Civic Center.
Instead of people going to downtown Ann Arbor to hold seminars, they could make an appointment with us and use a room in places like the Civic Center which would give them the privacy they need. We're looking at that as an option.
We need to figure how to take our commercial quarters and give them their own sense of place. It could be a different plan for Washtenaw [avenue] it could be a different plan for Ellsworth road - everybody's unique.
What importance does Ypsilanti Township hold for you on a personal level?
I was born and raised in Ypsilanti - I love what I do. I have always enjoyed working for people. I believe I have a lot to bring to the leadership of the township as we move forward into the future.If you could give a personal message to voters, what would it be?
First of all, I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve everyone and to acquire knowledge, relationships, and abilities to be able to play a role in moving our community forward. Secondly, I have a desire to continue to help our community. I would like to move us into the next four years with some good, solid planning. All of us could have easily gone somewhere else, but we chose to stay here.
Name: Brenda Stumbo
Residence: Ypsilanti Township
Political experience: Township Trustee (1988 to 1992), Township Clerk (1992 to present)
Why are you running?
I've been encouraged to run by many residents, employees, and four other board members. I feel that I have the necessary education, skills, and experience to be a better leader than the current one.
What major issues are affecting the area?
Economic development - we need to create jobs and also retain existing businesses. We have to do whatever we can as a government to provide a business-friendly environment. We need to clean up the community and raise the standards.
Do you mean cleaning from an environmental perspective?
Yes, not only in our presentation of the community, but using our existing building code and maintenance ordinances to clean the affected neighborhoods and business districts.
You could have a beautiful street and one bad neighbor - from a visual standpoint - can ruin the feel of an entire street.
Ford Lake Park is also another area I'm committed to cleaning. We need to do whatever we can to get that algae bloom under control.
How do you plan on approaching these issues?
I have the ability to work as a team. If everyone has the same goal, we should be able to build upon that and work towards it.
Over the past four years, the current supervisor has tried to present us as a divided board. Ninety-five percent of the time we have voted in unity.
There's really not a division, but when you as a leader of the township continue to say that, people start to believe it. To have a strong economic development plan, everyone on the board has to agree. It's not just one person, it's a whole board that can make a difference.
The current supervisor wants to merge with the city of Ypsilanti and consolidate. I don't. It's not in the best interest of our residents and taxpayers.
What importance does Ypsilanti Township hold for you on a personal level?
I moved here from Kentucky when I was five. I've been here my whole life. I truly love the residents here and I want to continue serving. I could have stayed at my current position - the pay is the same. My only motivation to run is my concern for the future.
It probably would have been better if I ran for clerk, because it would have been a much easier position to get re-elected. But I owe the residents of this community and I'm willing to take the risk to help them.
If you could give the voters a personal message, what would it be?
There is a distinct difference between the current supervisor and myself - styles.
I am positive, progressive, and action-oriented. She comes from a state legislature, she likes to put issues in committees.
In order to attract businesses and residents, you need a full-service community that's willing to do whatever they can for the benefit of the people.
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